Carlos Alcaraz is making the impossible look routine. The 22-year-old World No. 1 extended his season-opening winning streak to 16 matches on Thursday, dispatching Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 to reach his fifth consecutive semi-final at the BNP Paribas Open.
With this victory, Alcaraz joins an elite club featuring Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as the only men to reach five straight semi-finals in the California desert. Standing between him and a third final in four years is a familiar foe: Daniil Medvedev, the man he defeated in both the 2023 and 2024 finals at this very venue.
While Alcaraz entered as the favorite, the match against Norrie was a grudge match of sorts, following the Briton's victory over the Spaniard in Paris last November. Alcaraz utilized a mix of baseline power and delicate drop shots to navigate Norrie’s tricky, high-topspin style.
Tennis is about choosing the right shot in about half a second. Sometimes I just miss the shot because I didn’t choose the right one. In my mind, I have like seven, five options, sometimes it’s tricky for me to pick the right one.
Carlos Alcaraz
Saturday’s semi-final serves as a collision between the two most in-form players on the ATP Tour. Alcaraz is chasing a third Indian Wells crown following his historic Career Grand Slam completion at the Australian Open in January. Meanwhile, a resurgent Medvedev has already collected titles in Brisbane and Dubai this season.
Despite trailing 2-6 in their head-to-head series and losing his last four meetings with Alcaraz, the 30-year-old Russian believes the 2026 conditions might favor his flat, penetrating groundstrokes.
Flawless fortnight: Medvedev has yet to drop a set in the tournament, winning 16 consecutive sets leading into the semi-final.
Faster conditions: Medvedev noted that the courts at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden feel faster this year than during his previous final losses to Alcaraz.
Ranking stakes: A win would see Medvedev leapfrog Novak Djokovic into second place in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin.
I feel like the court is a bit faster since the two times I have played him, so I feel like it's a good chance to show my best tennis against him. But he's the toughest opponent we have right now.
Daniil Medvedev
Young legend: Alcaraz is the youngest man in history to complete a Career Grand Slam (attained Jan 2026).
Streak: Alcaraz has won his last 16 matches; Medvedev has won his last 16 sets.
The hex: Alcaraz has won the last four meetings between the two, including two Indian Wells finals.
"Big Three": Alcaraz is only the third man ever to reach five consecutive Indian Wells semi-finals.
While Alcaraz is currently the "toughest opponent" in the world, Medvedev’s dismantling of defending champion Jack Draper in the previous round suggests he is playing with a level of confidence unseen since his stint at World No. 1. If the courts are indeed faster, the "Little Bird" of Spain may find his defensive lobs and drop shots under much more pressure than in previous years.
